Express & Star

Birmingham City handed nine-point deduction after FFP breach

Birmingham City have been deducted nine points for breaching FFP regulations.

Published
Last updated

Blues had been the subject of a hearing this week, with a potential 12-point deduction being a possibility.

Due to their large spending in recent seasons, the Championship club have been dealt an immediate nine-point deduction to their current tally, leaving them 18th with 41 points - five points ahead of the relegation places.

The club have avoided further punishment however - with no fine or transfer embargo being placed upon them.

In a statement issued online, the EFL explained the decision to punish Birmingham City.

"An independent Disciplinary Commission, appointed under EFL Regulations, has today ruled that Birmingham City will be deducted nine points as a result of a breach of the League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules." Read the statement.

"It follows a review of the financial submission from Birmingham City for the three-year period 2015/16 to 2017/18 where it was determined the club had recorded losses in excess of the £39.0m upper loss threshold.

"On 14 August 2018 the Club was charged with a breach of those Rules. At a hearing on 18 March 2019, the Club pleaded guilty to the charge, and after hearing representations from both parties, the panel has fully considered the matter and ruled a nine-point deduction is appropriate, which will take effect in the current season."

An EFL spokesperson said: “The Profitability and Sustainability Rules, aligned with those in the Premier League, became effective in 2015/16. Season 2017/18 was the end of the first full reporting period with Birmingham City the only club found to have breached those requirements, when it incurred adjusted losses of £48.787 million, £9.787 million in excess of the permitted losses.

"The Disciplinary Commission had the opportunity to consider all relevant factors in reaching its determination, including the club’s mitigation."

Birmingham City have two weeks to appeal the decision, with the Championship table now amended to reflect the deduction.

Blues invested a significant amount of cash in the playing squad following the hiring of Gianfranco Zola - and Harry Redknapp, following the Italian's sacking.

The club signed the likes of Jota, Marc Roberts, Harlee Dean and Maxime Colin during the 2017/18 campaign.

Blues are the first club to be deducted points following the introduction of the EFL's new profitability and sustainability regulations, which came into place at the beginning of the 2016/17 season.

The deduction plunges the club into serious relegation threat, with the side set to face promotion chasing West Brom, Leeds and Sheffield United before taking on bottom of the table Ipswich.

Garry Monk's side have lost the last four games, and were heavily criticised following the Second City derby, in which a supporter attacked Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish - the club issued a lifetime ban to the man, who was subsequently jailed for 14 weeks.

Blues are still waiting to hear about any FA punishment regarding that incident, the club have been charged with failing to control their spectators - and have until today (March 22) to respond.

Both Villa and Blues were fined £5,000 after being charged by the FA for failing to control their players during the encounter.